Chaz Mostert has completed a dominating performance at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 by sealing victory in Race 29.
Mostert had to withstand intense pressure from Red Bull Ampol Racing’s Broc Feeney following a late-race safety car.
In the end, Feeney was unable to find a way past and had to hold of the R&J Batteries Racing Chevrolet Camaro of Andre Heimgartner, who led a hungry pack led by Penrite Racing’s Matt Payne for the final steps on the podium.
The first eliminations of the news Finals system have been confirmed, with Mostert’s teammate Ryan Wood, 2023 champion Brodie Kostecki and Anton De Pasquale out.
Mostert started fourth and was able to overhaul the leading contenders in the second pit sequence to hold a lead he failed to relinquish.
It was a spicy battle off the line between Feeney from pole and Thomas Randle, with just 23 entries taking the start. This was due to a starter motor problem for Macauley Jones although he joined the field a lap down.
Matt Stone Racing’s weekend from hell continued after Nick Percat stopped due to a broken rear shock absorber and Cam Hill’s cool suit failed.
The end of the first lap marked a disappointment for Will Davison after contact from Bryce Fullwood at the opening chicane sent the Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustang out of control. Fullwood was penalised a drive through.
Wood and Kostecki’s crews both followed the same strategy by gambling on an early stop at the end of lap 5, while De Pasquale was the next to pit some eight circuits later.
Snowy River Racing’s James Courtney was the first of the leaders to pit on lap 18 as teammate Aaron Cameron was playing the perfect tail-gunner.
Mostert came in on lap 23 after being unable to pass Randle for second, but this forced Red Bull Ampol Racing’s hand when it pitted Feeney next.
Randle was the big loser at the end of the pit shuffle after being undercut by Mostert, while Matt Payne was on the move after pitting on lap 28 as he charged forward to be a concern for the leading contenders.
Feeney led the way after the first stops from Mostert and Randle, with the latter starting struggle until pitting on lap 54.
Still without a safety car period, Feeney was next of the contenders to pit on lap 57 and it wasn’t text book due to the left-rear wheel nut not activating until the very last stages of the service.
Mostert crucially pitted two laps later, but fuelled a little lighter emerged in front of Feeney to take the first. Payne also pitted at the same time and emerged behind Waters only to make a pass similar to Scott McLaughlin’s on Mark Winterbottom in 2016 to take the place.
Kostecki, Wood and De Pasquale all needed to win to keep their Finals chances alive, but each were placed on the outer reaches of the top 10 leading to some interesting moves.
Richie Stanaway was also in this battle and clashed with Kostecki ensuring the Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustang dropped multiple positions.
Drama wasn’t restricted to those fighting for a place in the Finals, with Randle being tapped into a spin by Allen in the closing stages.
The safety car was required on lap 75 when De Pasquale tapped Courtney into the tyre wall at Turn 11.
Four laps remained for Mostert to withstand Feeney’s advances, which he only just did and Heimgartner also came into play, as did Payne.
Although there were some robust passing attempts, the top places didn’t change.
Waters was fifth from Allen, Randle, Will Brown, Wood and Cameron.
The next round of the Repco Supercars Championship is the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 on November 14-16.